Electric-lamp socket.



C. B. MILLS. ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1913.

Patented Man-16, 1915.

CHARLES B. MILLS, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-FOURTH TO ALFRED J. CARE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ELECTRIC-LAMP SOCKET.

1&31324.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 116, 1915.

Application filed September at, 1913. Serial Ito. 791,831.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES Mums, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented new and useful 1m Movements in Electric-Lamp Sockets, of which the followin is a specification.

%his invention relates to improvements in electric lamp sockets and has particular application to means for securing such dev ces to cables and placing the same in electrical contact therewith. l

In carrying out the present myention, it is my purpose to provide a device of the class described which will be found especially useful in temporary work-.such, for instance, as the securing of electric lamps to suspended cables for decorating purposes, and whereby the lamps and socket members will be rigidly and securely held to the cable so that vibration of the lamp or socket member independently of the cable is eliminated.

It is also my purpose to provide means for effecting a temporary connection between the lamp socket and the cable whlch will be constructed in such manner that the upper surface of the. socket will abut against the adjacent portion of the cable, the securing devices being so formed that removal of the socket member from the cable by pulling such member in a direction at right angles to the cable is avoided. Furthermore, ll aim to provide a device of the type set forth which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, ,efiiciency and durability which may be readily and conveniently applied to any type of lamp socket member or base, as

such member is sometimes called, now in use, and which will hold the lamp securely to and in electrical engagement with the cable,

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the see c of the claim.

n the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a view-in side elevation of at am socket member showing the connection etween such member and the cable. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through the cable. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view through one form of lamp socket equipped with my present invention. Fig. 4 is a similar view through another form of'lamp socket equipped with my invention. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the socket. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the lamp socket or receptacle.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the numeral 1 designates a lamp socket which, in Figs. 1 and 3 of thedrawing, is shown to be of the Edison type, such socket comprising an outer casing 2 of insulating material. and having a closed end 3 and an open end 4. Mounted within the "casin -1 and suitably secured thereto is an interior-threaded metallic shell 5 designed to receive the exteriorly threaded plug formed on the end of the lamp bulb.

In the present instance, the upper surface of the end wall 3 of the casing 22 is formed with recesses 6, 6 and within each recess is disposed the headed end 7 of a pin 8. The headed end 79f each pin is suitably fastened to the bottom wall of therrespective recess 6 and passed through the bottom wall ofi each recess is a headed stud 9 having one end thereof fastened to the headed end of the respective pin. The headed ends of the studs 9, 9 extend into the shell 5 and one of such studs is connectedwith the upper end of the shell, while the'remaining stud is connected to a spring contact 10 disposed within the shell 5 approximately centrally thereof and insulated therefrom and arranged in the path of movement of the contact carried on the upper end of the lamp plug. The pointed extremities of the pins 8 are disposed in a planeat an angle to the lane of the normal axis of the pins and, in he present instance, are bent at an acute angle to such axis so that a heel 11 is formed on each pin at the junction of the bent portion with the straight portion, such heels being-disposed in proximity to the upper surface of the closed end 3 of the casing 22.

In practice, the pointed extremities of the pins 8, 8 are forced through the insulation surface of such end to abut against the adjacent portion of the cable thereby prevent ing vibration of the socket member and lamp independently of the cable.

in Fig. 4 of the drawing, 1 have shown the pins as applied to a lamp socket of the Ediswann type and in this form of my invention the headed ends of the pins are disposed within the closed end of the casing 2 oft" the socket and have the heads thereof counter-sunk in the inner surface of such end. Suitably connected to the inner surface of the closed end wall 3 and depending therefrom in axial alinement with the. heads of the pins are sleeves 12, 12 in each of which is mounted for sliding movement a contact stud 13, coiled expansion springs 14 being interposed between the inner ends of the contact studs 13 and the heads 7 of the pins 8, such springs acting to hold the contact studs normally projected out of the sleeves so that when the plug of the lamp is inserted within the socket a good electrical contact between the pins 8, 8 and the lamp will be provided. 'As usual, the open end of the socket is formed at diametrically opposite points with bayonet slots 15 opening onto the outer edge of the socket member and 00- operating with the pins on the lamp plug to hold the latter in place.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. It will be seen that have provided a lamp socket whereby an 1'.

electric lamp may be readily and conveniently attached to a suspended cable for decorative purposes and whereby accidental displacement of the lamp, incident to the swinging of the cable, is avoided.

In the present instance, the cable, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, is of the duplex type, one of the pins entering one wire of the cable, while the remaining pin is passed into the other wire.

I claim:

The combination with a cable, of a lamp socket member, headed pins having the head ends thereof embedded in said socket member and electrically connected therewith, and the shanks thereof disposed at an acuate angle to the normal axis of the pins and designed to penetrate the cable, the bent portions of the pins forming, at the junction with the straight portions, heels disposed in proximity to the upper surface of the socket member whereby the upper surface of such socket is caused to abut the adjacent portion of the cable and maintained in engagement with the cable.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. MILLS. Witnesses:

E. Emaorrsron, Jn, JOHN J. McCAm'mr. 

